Kosher Chili Cook-Off, Interfaith Seder and BBYO events canceled

Synagogues and schools adapt to stem spread of COVID-19

By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Pikuach Nefesh, the principle of preserving life over
virtually everything else is an overarching principle in Judaism. In response
to the spread of the coronavirus, numerous local Jewish organizations and
synagogues have canceled upcoming events and modified the way they conduct
their day-to-day activities.

On Wednesday, March 11, following the announcement that
COVID-19 had been designated a pandemic, officials from the 27th Dallas Kosher
Chili Cook-Off annually hosted by Tiferet Israel, canceled Sunday’s contest
citing health concerns for the Dallas Jewish
and general community, the cooking teams, vendors and volunteers.

“Canceling
the Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-off was a very difficult decision, however, we
feel it is the right decision given the current situation.” said Stuart Roosth,
president of Tiferet Israel.

Cook-Off
Co-Chair Ed Jerome added, “While we believe we had adequate health precautions
in place, many have called us with concerns about having so many in our
community together at this time. Our primary concern is the health,
safety, and welfare of our community members.”

On
Thursday, Federation officials announced that the annual Interfaith Seder
scheduled for April 1 was canceled.

“We
are saddened that this special community event will not take place this year,
especially as so many past participants have told us how much they enjoy and
appreciate this annual gathering. But public health and safety concerns are
paramount.”

The
Texas Jewish Post has been the presenting sponsor of the Interfaith Seder for
the last several years.

Also
Thursday, Lory Conte and her Dallas BBYO staff, announced to parents via email
that several upcoming BBYO events are canceled or postponed.

“Out
of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily stopping all local BBYO
in person events. This includes all inperson chapter programs this
weekend being canceled and moved to virtual meetings. Teen chapter presidents
will be in touch with their chapters directly with video links and updated
plans.

“Spring Regional Convention, scheduled for April 3-5, is currently being
rescheduled. While we navigate this fluid situation, we will be in
touch to registered teens and parents with information about refunds
and/or credits for Spring Convention,” the BBYO email states.

Earlier
in the week, the March of the Living canceled its April program to Poland and
Israel, affecting Yavneh seniors, teens attending through BBYO and the
community’s second adult bus.

Levine
Academy also postponed its eighth-grade trip to Israel after learning that
Israel had placed a 14-day quarantine on those entering the country.

Throughout
the week, synagogues, day schools and other Jewish organizations have sent
emails to their members outlining procedures that will be followed to stem the
spread of coronavirus.

“There is no higher priority in Judaism than the
preservation of life and we want to assure you that our staff and our officers
(who are all medical professionals!) are keeping your well-being and the
well-being of our community in mind as we work together to slow the spread of
the virus,” wrote the leadership of Shearith Israel in Dallas, Thursday.

“This is a warm, close-knit, and loving community and we know
that warmth can be just as easily expressed through enthusiastic smiles and
verbal greetings. It is our hope that everyone will join our klei
kodesh in adopting this vitally important preventative measure,” the
email states.

Also, new procedures are in place during
services. The practice of kissing the Torah with prayer books or tallitot is
suspended. Those with aliyot and Torah readers will be asked to sanitize their
hands before handling ritual objects like the yad or Torah handles.

In it’s email to the community Temple Emanu-El
is also suspending physical contact between people. Emanu-El has also asked
that people who are traveling during spring break outside the DFW area refrain
from coming to the synagogue for 14 days upon their return.

“Judaism holds the value of kol yisrael aravim zeh b’zeh, that all
Jews are responsible for each other, highly. As a congregation, we stand
together and take this value to heart in protecting our diverse community and
the broader community of which we are a part. At this time, we are reminded
that our responsibility is not only to ourselves, but to all of those whose
risk can be minimized by our precautions.”

In an email to the Akiba
Academy community Wednesday, Rabbi Yaakov Green explained that faculty are
being trained to run Zoom meetings in the event that the school implements
distance learning.

“While at this time we do not anticipate the need for a
prolonged closure due to coronavirus, please be assured that we are diligently
planning proactively should the need arise,” Rabbi Green wrote.

Akiba
also began implementing the following plan:

“Upon
arrival, all students will wash hands when they enter their classrooms, and
again before lunch upon entering the lunch room, and then again when they
return from lunch and recess before returning to class. We recommend that upon
returning home all children wash their hands upon entering the home.

Everyone
on campus is asked to refrain from handshaking, using less physical or non
physical forms of greeting.

At
this time, to prevent the spread of germs, we are asking everyone to refrain
from kissing mezzuzot, a beloved custom (and not a requirement) we hope to
return to soon.

As
more information becomes available, the TJP will report on it. As a reminder,
the CDC recommendations are:

Clean
your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after
blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a
hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of
your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you
cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

Throw used tissues in the trash.

Immediately wash your hands with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available,
clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wear
a facemask if you are sick

If you are sick: You should wear a facemask
when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before
you enter a health care provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a
facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do
your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you
should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn
what to do if you are sick.

If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a
facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able
to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved
for caregivers.

If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water before disinfection.

To disinfect: Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants
appropriate for the surface.

Options include:

Diluting your household bleach. To make a bleach solution, mix:

5 tablespoons (1/3 cup)
bleach per gallon of water OR

4 teaspoons bleach per
quart of water

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper
ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never
mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household
bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

Alcohol solutions.Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.

Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens pdf icon[7 pages]external icon claims are expected to
be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products
(e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).